Wire clamp



1940- A. M. SEEGER ETAL ,393

WIRE CLAMP Filed Dec. 11, 1939 By 1? ar hCBair c711,

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 24, 1940 WIRE OLAIVIP Adolph M. Seeger, Toledo, Ohio, and Edgar W.v Baird, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa.; said 'Seeger assignor to said Baird, Jr.

Application December 11, 1939, Serial No. 308,554

9 Claims. (Cl. 24-134) Such sections may constitute parts of the same wire or parts of different wires, the clamp serving to hold them in rigid relation to each other. Clamping devices of this character have a wide variety of applications. For example, they are applied extensively to guy wires on telephone poles or the like; they may be employed to advantagefor clamping parts of a wire end looped around an anchorage; they may be used as connectors between different wires; they may serve as spacing elements between two wires, such as a messenger wire and a cable carried thereby; and they are generally useful in many different arts.

Heretofore, most clamping devices of this general character have been relatively bulky, expensive to manufacture and difficult to apply or remove. In order that the wires may be gripped firmly and held securely against dislodgment, it has formerly been thought necessary to employ clamp parts which are capable of applying great pressure to opposite sides of each wire section, such parts functioning in the manner of a vise. A further difficulty with such older forms of clamps, especially those operating on the principle of a vise, is that they are apt to injure the wires when applied with the force necessary. to hold them securely.

The principal object of the present invention is to overcome the above recited difiiculties by provision of a clamp which is simple in form, inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to apply and remove, and yet which serves efliciently to do the work of much larger and more complicated clamping devices.

' More specifically, the device of this invention is characterized by parts reduced to a minimum in number and in size which are so applied to the wire sections as to hold them by a combined pres sure and snubbing action, avoiding sharp bending or excessive squeezing of the wires at any point, whereby the wires are maintained substantially parallel and straight as they pass through the clamp.

Other objects and advantages characterizing the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of one preferred embodiment or example of the invention as hereinafter set forth, having reference to the accompanying drawing, whereof:

Fig. I is a plan view of one form of wire clamp embodying the invention and shown applied to parallel wire sections, with a portion of the clamp broken away.

Fig. II is a cross section of the clamp in in verted position, taken as indicated by the arrows 11-11 of Fig. I.

Fig. III is a perspective view of the base of the clamp; and

Fig. IV is a perspective view of the clamping dog.

With reference to the illustrated embodiment, the clamp comprises a base I, a clamping dog 2 pivotally mounted thereon, and a nut 3 for holding the parts in assembled relation. The wire sections to be clamped are designated by the reference numerals 4 and are shown running in parallel relation to each other. They may constitute parts of a single wire or parts of separate wires.

The base I has a substantially fiat body portion 5 with'flanges 6 at its opposite ends which serve as wire gripping walls. Preferably, though not essentially, the outer wall surfaces 1 of each flange 6 are'curved, as viewed in the plane of the wire sections 4, and this curvature may take the formsof arcs from the center of the base member. On the other hand,the inner wall surfaces 8 of each flange 6, as viewed in the above mentioned plane, are curved eccentrically and insuch manner as to change somewhat the general directions of the wires running through the clamp with avoidance, however, of sharp bending at any point, and such wall surfaces 8 are smoothly rounded at their ends to prevent biting into the wire sections. Inorder to accommodate the wire sections 4 and to grip them circumferentially, the wall surfaces 8 are grooved in a plane extending transversely of the wire sections 4, as indicated at 9.

The clamping dog 2 is disposed. between the flanges 6 of the base I and comprises a substantially fiat portion II], a nut shaped projection H, and a bolt shaped projection I2, such projections being formed integrally with the flat portion l0, preferably on opposite sides thereof. The nut shaped formation ll serves as a convenient means for application of a wrench to efifect rot-ation of the dog 2. Desirably the bolt shaped projection I2 is provided with a left handed thread l3, so'that the nut 3 applied thereto will tend to tighten in the event that clamping pressure on the wire sections 4 is decreased by rotation of the dog 2 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. I. A-

onpnsite ends. the dog 2 is provided with wire gripping wall surfaces M which are curved as viewed in the plane of the wire sections 4 and grooved in a plane extending trans- 1 versely of the wire sections, as indicated at I5. The companion wall-surfaces 8 and I4 of the base I and dog 2, respectively, thus engage the wires circumferentially. Moreover, the curved surfaces I4 of the dog 2 are preferably formed by arcs not only eccentric with respect to the pivotal point of the clamp, but having relative eccentricity with respect to the inner wall surfaces 8 of the base. Thus the dog 2 functions in the manner of a cam, and its clockwise rotation serves to produce a squeezing action on the wire sections 4, while at the same time the bending of the wire sections produces additionally a snubbing action by reason of the deviation of the wire sections from the general direction in which they are running. This combined pressure and snubbing action is far more eflective than a simple gripping of the wires with pressure exerted transversely thereof as in a vise. In fact, a relatively small clamp designed in accordance with the principle of this invention provides a most effective grip.

The particular curvature of the companion gripping surfaces 8 and H has the further advantage that when the clamp is applied and tightened there is no tendency for accidental dislodgment or loosening of the clamping dog 2. When the parts are rotated to the position shown in Fig. I, a sudden jerking or pulling of the wire sections 4 in any direction will not dislodge the dog from its position.

In order to indicate more clearly the eccentricity of the arcuately curved wire gripping surfaces 8 and I4, the centers from which the arcs have been drawn have been designated in the drawing as a, b, c, and d, with conventional arrows. The particular location of these centers may, however, be varied considerably without defeating the principle of the invention.

It will be understood that while there has been shown one embodiment of the invention which has been described herein in some detail, the particular structure of the clamp may be varied in many ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. Obviously, the various formations on the two principal parts of the clamp may be reversed in different ways both with respect to their relative positions and with respect to the element upon which they are formed.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A wire clamp comprising a base having flanges at its opposite ends, a clamping dog pivotally mounted on said base between said flanges,

a nut formed integrally with said clamping dog for effecting its rotation, and means for holding said dog and base in assembled relation, said flanges and the ends of said dog being formed with curved surfaces adapted to accommodate between them the wire sections to be clamped together, and said surfaces having such relative eccentricity that rotation of the clamping dog with respect to the base will tighten or loosen the grip on the wire sections depending upon the direction of such rotation, and said surfaces being eccentric with respect to the pivotal point about which such rotation occurs, and being so curved that said wire sections are clamped together in substantially parallel relation to each other.

2. A three part wire clamp comprising a base having flanges at its opposite ends, a clamping dog having nut and bolt shaped formations thereon, the latter formation passing through the base and having screw threads thereon, a nut for engaging said screw threads to hold the parts in assembled relation, said flanges and the ends of said dog being formed with curved surfaces adapted to accommodate between them the wire sections to be clamped together, and said surfaces having such relative eccentricity that rotation of the clamping dog with respect to the base will tighten or loosen the grip on the wire sections depending upon the direction of such rotation, and said surfaces being eccentric with respect to the pivotal point about which such rotation occurs, and being so curved that said wire sections are clamped together in substantially parallel relation to each other.

3. A three part Wire clamp comprising a base having flanges at its opposite ends, a clamping dog having nut and bolt shaped formations thereon, the latter formation passing through the base and having screw threads thereon, a nut for engaging said screw threads to hold the parts in assembled relation, said flanges and the ends of said dog being formed with curved surfaces adapted to accommodate betweenthem the wire sections to be clamped together, and said surfaces having such relative eccentricity that rotation of the clamping dog with respect to the base will tighten or loosen the. grip on the wire sections depending upon the direction of such rotation, and the bolt shaped formation on the clamping dog being so threaded that the nut applied thereto will tend to tighten as the clamping dog decreases its grip on the wire sections.

4. A wire clamp comprising a base having flanges at its opposite ends serving as wire gripping walls and arcuately curved in the plane of the wire sections to be gripped, and a clamping dog pivoted on said base between said flanges and having opposite end walls serving as companion wire gripping walls and arcuately curved in the plane of the wire sections, the arcuately curved walls of the base and dog having such relative eccentricity that rotation of the dog with respect to the base will tighten or loosen the grip on the wire sections depending upon the direction of such rotation, and said arcuately curved Walls being eccentric with respect to the pivotal point about which such rotation occurs, and having their arcs drawn from different centers spaced along a line passing through said pivotal point and generally paralleling said wire sections.

, 5. A wire clamp comprising a base having flanges at its opposite ends serving as wire gripping walls and curved in the plane of the wire sections to be gripped, and a clamping dog pivoted on said base between said flanges and having opposite end walls serving as companion wire gripping walls and curved in the plane of the wire sections, the curved walls of the base and dog having such relative eccentricity that rotation of the dog with respect to the base will tighten or loosen the grip on the wire sections depending upon the direction of such rotation, and having such curvature and eccentricity with respect to the pivotal point as to produce a snubbing action upon the wire sections with avoidance of sharp bending, whereby said wire sections are maintained substantially parallel and straight as they pass through said wire gripping walls.

6. A wire clamp comprising a base having flanges at its opposite ends serving as wire gripping walls and curved in the plane of the wire sections to be gripped as well as grooved in a plane extending transversely of the wire sections, and a clamping dog pivoted on said base between said flanges and having opposite end walls serving as comp-anion wire gripping walls, and curved in the plane of the wire sections and grooved in a plane extending transversely thereof, the curved walls of the base and dog having such relative eccentricity that rotation of the dog with respect to the '7. A wire clamp comprising a base element hav ing flanges at its opposite ends serving as wire gripping walls and curved in the plane of the wire sections to be gripped, and a clamping element pivoted on said base between said flanges and having opposite end walls serving as companion wire gripping walls and curved in the plane of the wire sections, the curved walls of said base and clamping elements having such relative eccentricity that rotation of the one element with respect to the other will tighten or loosen the grip on the wire sections depending upon the direction of such rotation, and having such eccentricity with respect to the pivotal point as to produce a snubbing action upon the .wire sections with avoidance of sharp bending, whereby said wire sections are maintained substantially parallel and straight as they pass through said wire gripping walls, and one of said elements having a nut formed integrally therewith for effecting its rotation.

8. A wire clamp comprising a base element having flanges at its opposite ends serving as wire gripping wallsand curved in the plane of the wire sections to be gripped, and a clamping element pivoted on said base between said flanges and having opposite end walls serving as companion wire gripping walls and curved in the plane of the wire sections, the curved walls of said base and clamping elements having such relative eccentricity that rotation of the one elementwith respect to the other will tighten or loosen the grip on the wire sections depending upon the direction of such rotation, and having such eccentricity with respect to the pivotal point as to produce a snubbing action upon the wire sections with avoidance of sharp bending, whereby said wire sections are maintained substantially parallel and straight as they pass through said wire gripping walls, and one of said elements having nut and bolt shaped projections formed integrally therewith, the latter projection passing through the other element, and having screw threads thereon, and

' a'nut engaging said screw threads.

9. A wire clamp comprising a base element having flanges at its opposite ends serving as wire gripping walls and curved in the plane of the wire sections to be gripped, and a clamping element pivoted on said base between said flanges and having opposite end walls serving as companion wire gripping walls and curved in the plane of the wire sections, the curved walls of said base and clamping elementshaving such relative eccentricity that rotation of the one element with respect to the other will tighten or loosen the grip on the wire sections depending upon the direction of such rotation, and having such eccentricity with respect to the pivotal point as to produce a snubbing action upon the wire sections with avoidance of sharp bending, and one of said elements having nut and bolt shaped projections formed integrally therewith, the latter projection passing through the other element, and having screw threads thereon, and a nut engaging said screw threads and the bolt shaped projection being so threaded that the nut applied thereto will tend to tighten as the, clamping pressure on the wire sections is decreased.

ADOLPH M. SEEGER. EDGAR W. BAIRD, JR. 

